CALLS for cheaper visitor parking rates in Hammersmith and Fulham - published in last week's Chronicle - have received widespread backing from the community.

Isolated Margaret Spector, of Weavers Terrace, Fulham, generated a wave of support from similarly fed-up readers after demanding the council slash its 'disgraceful' prices.

At the moment, visitors can only find the price of an hour's parking reduced to £1.80 as part of a discounted smart visitor permit, in half of the borough's parking zones.

The 73-year-old, who was left housebound for a month after a foot operation, said Hammersmith and Fulham Council should follow the lead of neighbouring boroughs like Wandsworth, Ealing and Islington, which all offer up to three hours free parking to visitors and discounted rates as low as 50p an hour.

And the Chronicle has now been inundated with support for Mr Spector's campaign from residents across the borough.

Marian McDonagh, of Fulham, said: “I agree that the council's greed is preventing family and friends from visiting each other and it is diabolical that they think this is acceptable.

“No zone should have to pay parking after 5pm in the evening, thereby visiting family and friends would be free to visit - this would help support family, the elderly and lonely, which should be essential in society.”

Nick Dove, of Gledstanes Road, West Kensington, said: “The feeble discount we get for visitors is barely worth it.”

And Anna Goodman, of Shepherd's Bush, said: “The parking situation in the borough is grim to say the least. Most other boroughs, including our neighbour Ealing, provide daily scratch-off parking permits for visitors, which seem to be effective and reasonable.”

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has defended its pricing scheme and said it is introducing a residents' visitors discounted scheme across the borough 'over the next few years'.

Councillor Nick Botterill, deputy leader and environment spokesman, said: “Parking policy is all about trying to balance various competing needs and claims. We also get lots of complaints from residents about problems parking in their streets and we have to weigh up their parking needs against those of visitors and businesses, and it is always a difficult balancing act.

"Also, experience shows that commuters will consider dropping their cars off around tube stations and bus routes in Hammersmith and Fulham before finishing their journey into central London.

"If we make it cheaper to park then it is likely that both residents and visitors will find it more difficult to park in our streets. We are already the second most congested borough in London where we have more people wanting to park vehicles than there are spaces available, so parking really is at a premium."

SEE PAGE 2 FOR MORE COMMUNITY REACTION

MICHAEL CONWAY, of West Kensington: “I am a pensioner and so, mainly, are my friends. Our council makes great play of reducing council tax but I would prefer better visitor parking.”

MARGARET SPILLARD, Shepherd’s Bush: “I am retired and friends and family will not visit me because of exhorbitant parking fees.”

CAROLYN SMITH, Fulham: “I pay resident's parking for zone W in Fulham, but, in order to visit my doctor, friends and shops in the borough, I have to pay again.”

JENNIFER AND PETER ALLEN, Hammersmith: “We find it very difficult for our children and grandchildren to visit during the week for any length of time. We also have difficulty finding workmen to do jobs as they always ask about parking and the cost for all day is prohibitive.”

L LINDSAY, Shepherd's Bush: “The system is a money making exercise for the council and prevents friends and family outside the borough visiting at reasonable times.”

SUZANNE von PFLUGL, Shepherd’s Bush: “We have just been told there will be a residents’ discount in our area of 40p an hour. Big deal. Hardly worth the bother.”

MAGGIE HODD, of Hammersmith: “In Chiswick and Richmond you can buy a book of parking slips at a cheaper rate than the tickets from the machine. I have asked Hammersmith and Fulham Council about this and their reply was that ‘there was no call for it’.

PETER LAKE, Fulham: “Could the council allow even one day a week or some hours during a day that’s free for over-70s? On football days the parking goes up to 9.30pm.”

DIANA SNELL, Fulham: “My friends are pensioners and they can only afford the bus. Then they have to rush off before dark – in winter 4pm”

ANNABEL HAMPSHIRE, of Hammersmith: “We recently moved from Winchester. I have just had some friends for lunch and they had to pay £9.60 for their trouble.”

MICHAEL DELOUGHERY, of Hammersmith: “My children see their grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins a lot less because of the parking cost. They live in rural areas and have to drive here.”

JANETTE BRAMBLE, of Hammersmith: “Some family members no longer visit which is a high price to pay for those of us who live here in this borough. The council has essentially curtailed the social lives of residents.”

PAULINE REITH, of Shepherd's Bush: “I’ve had building work and, with two vans parked for six hours a day over four months, I have been charged hundreds of pounds.”

DIANA MASON, Fulham: “If a friend comes to lunch on a weekday I cannot give them a guest token as in many other boroughs.”

n In last week’s story about visitor parking charges, we wrongly stated the smart visitor permit scheme would be introduced in Zone Z. It will come into force in Zone V.